dictum
Other forms: dicta; dictums
"You are what you eat" is a dictum, and so is a law requiring you to curb your dog. A dictum is a formal pronouncement, a rule, or a statement that expresses a truth universally acknowledged.
Dictum dates from the 16th Century. It descended from a Latin word that means "something said." In contemporary use, it means more like "something that is officially said." If the principal of your school issues a dictum declaring "no jeans in school," it's time to go shopping.
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an authoritative declarationsynonyms: pronouncement, say-sotypes:directivea pronouncement encouraging or banning some activityPresidential Directivea directive issued by the President of the United States; usually addressed to all heads of departments and agenciestype of:declarationa statement that is emphatic and explicit (spoken or written)
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an opinion voiced by a judge on a point of law not directly bearing on the case in question and therefore not bindingsynonyms: obiter dictumtype of:judgement, judgment, legal opinion, opinionthe legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision
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Vocabulary lists containing dictum
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In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury imagines a dystopian future in which firemen burn banned books and people are constantly bombarded with mindless entertainment. This classic novel is as powerful and relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1953.
Practice this list of English words derived from the Latin roots dic and dict, which mean "say" or "declare."